In Aden: Have Mosques Become a Target for STC Militants to Abduct and Terrorize Citizens?

Yemen Monitor / Special Report:

Aden witnessed a shocking incident on Thursday morning that ignited a wave of public and official outrage. Armed militants affiliated with the Southern Transitional Council (STC) forces raided Omar Ibn Al-Khattab Mosque in Al-Mansoura district during dawn prayers, abducting its Imam, Sheikh Mohammed Al-Kazemi, to the astonishment of worshippers.

Videos showed the moment the mosque was stormed, amid gunfire and the display of grenades inside the holy sanctuary. Activists described the scene as “organized thuggery committed in the name of security,” drawing widespread condemnation from human rights and media organizations.

Local sources confirmed that Sheikh Al-Kazemi was released hours after the incident, following a rising wave of condemnations and demands to hold the attackers accountable and ensure the sanctity of mosques against any armed violations.

Sheikh Al-Kazemi was not merely an imam and preacher; he was a fighter and one of the resistance figures who took up arms to defend Aden against Iran-backed Houthi militants during their invasion of the city in 2015.

Sheikh Al-Kazemi: “What Happened Is Unacceptable Even by the Law of the Jungle”

In his first statement after his release, Sheikh Mohammed Al-Kazemi said, “What happened in the mosque is unacceptable by any law, custom, or even the law of the jungle. The house of God has its sanctity and status.”

He added, “Praise be to God that there are still those who uphold justice. The attackers, including their leader, have been arrested and are being held accountable. We hope this sends a strong message that violating the sanctity of mosques will not be tolerated.”

Minister of Endowments: “Reprehensible Behavior That Harms the State and Society”

For his part, the Minister of Endowments and Guidance, Mohammed bin Ayda Shabiba, contacted Sheikh Al-Kazemi to check on his health, affirming that what occurred was a “blatant assault on the sanctity of God’s houses and an unacceptable attack on one of its imams.”

The Minister pointed out that this behavior “harms the state and its prestige, and opens the doors to chaos,” demanding decisive action from the authorities and emphasizing that “the state is not built by violence, but by justice and respect for the law.”

The Minister affirmed that the ministry had been following the incident from its initial moments and had contacted the relevant authorities, commending those who fulfilled their duty regarding this event and took necessary measures, befitting the sanctity of mosques and the status of their imams.

Minister Shabiba called for a serious and responsible stand from all parties, authorities and society alike, to confront these practices that pose a threat to social security and peace, stressing that “the country is not built by chaos, but by justice, respect for the law, and strengthening the presence of the state and its institutions.”

Violation of Sanctities in Broad Daylight

In turn, the Minister of Youth and Sports, during his visit to the mosque after noon prayers, condemned the incident, saying: “Today I performed the noon prayer at the mosque that witnessed an unfortunate incident involving an armed intrusion and gunfire inside it, and the forceful arrest of Sheikh Mohammed Al-Kazemi in front of a crowd of worshippers, without any legal justification or responsible conduct.”

He added that “the worshippers and the community expressed their shock, confirming that Sheikh Al-Kazemi is known for his moderation, good character, and moderate preaching activities.”

The Minister affirmed: “We strongly condemn these irresponsible actions, which are a violation of the sanctity of religious places and an intimidation of innocent, committed people. We believe that the application of law has official means, not under the cover of weapons and storming houses of God.”

Angry Reactions

Journalist and writer Fathi Bin Lazraq commented on the incident, saying: “We will not be silent about a violation committed in the name of security. These people represent nothing but chaos. We will stand with the real state, not with the system of armed lawlessness.”

He added: “We will stand with the real, aware security agencies that seek to establish a state, order, and law. In the face of this uncontrolled system, we will align ourselves in defense of the people, their sanctities, and what remains of their dignity, even if it costs us our lives.”

Journalist Saleh Mansour Al-Yafei also wrote that: “What is happening in Aden has exceeded all norms… no respect for the sanctity of a mosque or a home. These are gangs devoid of morals.”

Huda Al-Sarari, Head of the Defense Foundation, commented: “What happened this morning is a legal and moral scandal. It was not the action of a security force, but a heavily armed gang that terrorized worshippers and kidnapped the Imam as if he were a war criminal.”

She added: “This is not a security force, but an armed formation that is not subject to any judicial or civilian authority. The method of intrusion and abduction is no different from the behavior of gangs; in fact, it is worse, because it is carried out in the name of institutions that are supposed to protect, not terrorize!”

For his part, Sheikh Ali Al-Mahthouthi said that “what happened is not the work of the state, but thuggery documented by audio and video. Has bullets and grenades become a means to intimidate imams? If you are rational, then stop these ‘films’.”

He pointed out that “the method of abduction and shooting at him in the mosque was a new method and a new ‘film’ to terrorize mosque imams. The era of ‘films’ against mosque imams is over if there is a rational person among you to deter you from these thuggery ‘films’ in mosques.”

The incident has brought serious questions to the forefront regarding the influence of armed groups in Aden and the danger of the situation escalating beyond security breakdown. This comes amid increasing demands for accountability for those involved and the activation of the military committee’s tasks to integrate security formations in Aden under the leadership of the Ministries of Interior and Defense.

Activists affirmed that the official bodies’ silence on such actions threatens social peace and sows the seeds of chaos and conflict among people, asking: “If mosques are not protected, what sanctity remains?”